Idioms: Have a laugh in Farsi!

Every language has its unique idioms, or phrases that just don't translate well. In English, we describe a downpour as a zoological disaster, and a crazy person as someone who has misplaced their marbles. Without questioning them, these literary atrocities worm their way into our lexicon until they become ardently integral. The result is astonishing: the more idioms a speaker knows, the better they can wield their words. In other words, the less a speaker makes sense (to a degree), the greater their grasp on language.

Idioms are a figure of speak often underappreciated by school language teachers. Curriculums value vocabulary, conjugation, tenses (all of which are vital), but tend to gloss over the words and phrases that truly send native speakers off their rockers -- so to speak.

Growing up with an Iranian-American father, I soon learned that idioms are foundational to the Farsi language. In elementary school, just figuring out reading in English, I stumbled through simple books in Farsi, and my handwriting was still wonky at best. But whenever my grandparents came to visit from Washington D.C., my father knew how to make my language skills shine: with idioms.

"It'll be a piece of cake" he would say, unintentionally using an idiom to describe the idioms he was about to teach me. In this post, I will share a few of my favorite Persian idioms commonly used in Farsi. Everything from missing your friend to falling down take on a silly new meaning when translated literally.

• "I miss you" Delam tang shod baraye to

  • Literal translation: My stomach is tight for you

  • Explanation: In old Farsi language, the word for heart was "del". In more modern times, this word has come to mean stomach.

• "I fell down" Khordam zamin

  • Literal translation: I ate dirt

• "Shame on you" Khak to saret

  • Literal translation: Dirt on your head

  • Explanation: This inflammatory idiom calls for the death of the receiver. Commanding dirt on someone's head implies their death and subsequent burial. There is no clear English expression analagous to this one, but the phrase is used to express discontent in a person or circumstance.

• "I'd die for you" Ghorbaanat beram

  • Literal translation: I would sacrifice myself for you

  • Explanation: This idiom is an expression of love for the receiver. Hyperbole is applied to magnify the sentiment.

• "Absolutely"Be rooye cheshmam

  • Literal translation: I would put it on my eyes

  • Explanation: What someone is asking is so dear to someone, they would place it on their eyes.

• "You're welcome"Ghabel nadareh

  • Literal translation: It's not worthy of you

  • Explanation: This explanation is demonstrative of the flowery manner of speech Iranians exercise.